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Friday, March 17, 2017 — 3
with the help of our colleagues
at the U-M Alumni Association,
along
with
other
channels.
Our
(massive
online
open
courses) have reached over 5.6M
enrollments over the last 5 years
so we also hope to encourage
many of these learners to
explore these topics with us.”
Natural Resources Prof. Arun
Agrawal, an expert in political
science, will be hosting the first
teach-out event. Agrawal said
the transition to authoritarian
rule is a prevalent topic in the
media and he believes many
can benefit from having a better
understanding
of
how
this
transition functions.
“I think what is really important
for us to understand better at this
point is how democratic countries
can become more authoritarian or
countries that are more democratic
can become more authoritarian,”
Agrawal said. “This is important
both because of the way many
issues are being portrayed in the
news media and because of the
concern that many people have
about the extent to which that an
erosion in both democratic values
and democratic decision making,
and I’m not talking just about the
United States — I think it is going
on lots of countries.”
According to Agrawal, since
the 1980s, there has been a
general trend toward democracy
in political systems in areas such
as Africa and Latin America.
However, he said in recent years
there has been a growing concern
about a global shift away from
democracy in many countries,
so he and other faculty members
participating in the teach-outs
will draw on historical examples
of countries that moved from
democracy to authoritarianism
and
relate
them
to
current
political climates around the
globe.
TEACH OUT
From Page 1
plan replaces the brick awning
over the entrance with a glass
canopy, allowing more light to
reach the entrance. White was
concerned
about
specifics
of
this renovation. Lewis said this
modification would give a better
aesthetic impression.
“The North entry is the most
heavily used entrance of the
Union, in some ways, it’s a front
door to the University for visitors,
students, staff, faculty, alumni and
currently is very dark, hard to find
and not very welcoming,” White
said. “This canopy will create a
more appropriate and inviting
entry for everyone to come and
enjoy the renewed place we call
the Michigan Union.”
Prior
to
the
presentation,
University alum Alan Knaus,
a member of Friends of the
Michigan Union, expressed his
dissatisfaction with the renovation
of certain spaces in the Union for
student activities. He said the
renovation catered to students
over
alumni,
and
eliminated
elements of the Union he loves,
such as the Billiards Room.
“I was not happy with (the
elimination of the Billiards Room)
and the alumni that were there were
also not very happy about that,” he
said. “From my perspective, the
Office of Student Life does not
belong in the Michigan Union.
Essentially it’s supporting 1,400
special interest groups.”
REGENTS
From Page 1
unity.”
State Rep. Stephanie Chang
(D–Detroit) could not be at
the event, but sent a statement
to event organizers that was
read at the event, saying she
stands in solidarity with all
immigrants
and
minorities
facing harassment or attack.
“While I cannot be here
tonight, my thoughts are with
you, as well as with the families
who have been affected by
hate crimes,” Chang said in the
statement.
“Immigrants
and
others, today more than ever, are
harassed attacked and murdered
with horrifying frequency.”
During the vigil, attendees —
particularly those of South Asian
descent — were also invited to
share personal experiences or
general thoughts on their own
communities.
Business
junior
Chelsea
Racelis, a co-organizer of the
event, said she hoped people
would leave and not only reflect
on what people in their own
communities may be facing, but
also strive to understand others
and get further involved.
“I hope people reflect on
what this means for their own
communities,”
Racelis
said.
“There is a reason why everyone
came here today.”
Racelis also said she hopes
people continue to go out and
engage with different people and
events around campus to learn
more and stand in solidarity
with others.
“I hope people leave with not a
filled cup, but the desire to fill their
cup,” Racelis said. “To not just
come here and say ‘oh look this is
so great, I went to this vigil and
learned so much.’ I want people to
take people and say ‘these are the
experiences I heard and I want to
hear more experiences.’ ”
HATE CRIMES
From Page 1
that. It’s probably people like
Donald Trump who need to be
humanized, it’s not you.”
The stories of the refugees,
all told through the help of a
translator
onstage,
were
all
united by common threads of
shared humanity, desire to help
others and a love for American
democracy.
Omar, who did not provide
his last name as he was an
Iraqi refugee, said he came to
Michigan in 2014 with his wife
and two sons. Once he settled,
he began learning English online
and applying for jobs. He noted
how hard it was to start from a
place less than zero, and how
easy it is for people to forget they
share humanity with people from
different cultures.
“I am a person just like you and
we are all from one humankind,
and I want to live somewhere safe
and secure,” Omar said. “Arabs
and Iraqis also have culture and
customs, like Americans … We are
human.”
Another speaker, Shihab, who
also did not provide his last name
due to his immigration status,
detailed the horrors that refugees
encounter in Arab countries such
as Egypt, then expressed his deep
love and admiration for the United
States. He said he hopes his voice
will reach people across the world,
and that he can start a new life
replete with happiness and safety
in America.
“We
as
Muslims,
and
specifically refugees, really love
all of you guys,” Shihab said.
“Especially as refugees looking
for a safe place to live to live in
safety and freedom, because we
were denied that right in our own
home countries. We wanted to
come to America to live, to live in
happiness and safety and freedom.
To live in democracy and justice.
To build a future for our kids, and
to teach them knowledge and good
manners. Oh people, I ask you to
help me. So that my small voice,
me and my brother, will reach the
rest of the world.”
At the end of his talk, Shihab
read aloud a small portion of
a letter he wrote to President
Donald Trump. In the letter, he
asked the president to provide
refugees with a safe place to live,
and said refugees respect his
leadership and policies.
“For the sake of refugees, please
help us, please help us, Mr. Trump,”
he said. “Look carefully in your
future plans. We deserve and we
need to live in a safe place and we
respect your policies and your
orders, and respect your fear for
the American people — because
America is more important than
anything.”
Students in attendance said
hearing the refugees’ stories made
them consider their privilege, and
how immigrants can become part
of U.S. society today.
REFUGEES
From Page 1
it’s racist,” Sarkar said. “Students
are already qualified to be here.
The problem is that they don’t
want to be here.”
Later in the debate, candidates
were asked about their ideal
commencement speaker, a repeat
question from one of last year’s
debates, allowing them to get
a little more creative. Rosen
advocated for Donald Glover,
commonly known by his stage
name Childish Gambino, because
of the performer’s determination,
drive and ability to entertain a
crowd accustomed to the typical
seriousness of commencement
speeches; Sarkar chose Beyoncé,
someone she has been pushing for
as a speaker since her freshman
year, because of her empowering
aspects,
specifically
when
showing it is possible for a woman
to maintain a successful career,
family and social balance, a
balance Beyoncé built for herself;
Art & Design senior Keysha Wall,
the DAAP presidential candidate,
said they would like to see Angela
Davis, a political activist and
someone Wall continues to learn
about, address students.
In another question regarding
the drinking culture on campus,
Wall
highlighted
alcohol’s
common
association
with
sexual assault and discussed
the importance of disciplining
those accused of rape and sexual
assault. According to a 2007
National Institute Justice report,
89 percent of incapacitated sexual
assault victims reported having
consumed alcohol.
“I know that one of the
problems when our campus gets
to drinking, or when alcohol
is involved, is the issue of rape
and sexual assault,” they said. “I
would say that, even bigger than
that, we can prevent people from
even being hurt by exposing and
expelling rapists from campus.”
Candidates
followed
with
closing
statements,
each
expressing
their
dedication
to CSG and what their parties
mean to them. Vice presidential
candidates then came forward to
debate.
The status of the University
as a sanctuary city was again
brought forward in this round of
questioning, and candidates were
asked whether or not they were
concerned the University could
lose federal funding if it were to
declare this status or if it were to
bring in controversial speakers.
LSA senior Lauren Kay, vice
presidential candidate for DAAP,
described issues they see with the
discussion of such topics solely
in terms of financial standpoints,
as well as issues regarding the
privatization of higher education.
DEBATE
From Page 1
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